TFWYH – Chapter 148 Father-in-law’s Request

Tang Hongba saw that once again it was the troublesome daughter-in-law making a scene, and his face instantly darkened.

Madam An glanced at him. Seeing he was about to lose his temper, she immediately burst into tears and ran out.

The banquet fell into utter silence, the Tang father and sons all looking extremely grim.

In the end, it was Tang Tiansheng who broke the silence:
“Forget her, everyone, just eat.”

The others all felt sympathetic toward Tang Tiansheng, but since they were outsiders, it wasn’t their place to comment. They could only carry on as if nothing had happened.

Before long, the table grew lively again.

Tang Wan kept picking dishes for her eldest brother:
“Eat, don’t be upset!”

“Enough, enough, stop serving me!” Tang Tiansheng said with a wry smile—his bowl was piled up like a mountain.

Tang Tianyang muttered under his breath, curling his lips:
“Such a homewrecker. Watching her, I don’t even dare think about finding a wife.”

“Eat your food!” Tang Wan promptly stuffed a drumstick into his mouth.

Tang Tianyang: …

With his younger siblings joking around like this, a faint smile returned to Tang Tiansheng’s face, though his heart still felt heavy.

As the eldest son of the Tang family, his father had placed high hopes on him. When he was little, he had even been sent to study for two years.

He had never demanded much from a wife’s background or looks—only that she be of good character.

Yet in the end, after much searching, he had chosen someone so unreliable.

Tang Tiansheng had regretted his choice more than once.

Even so, he still hoped Madam An would learn to be sensible and live a good life with him.

But this woman was selfish and narrow-minded. As soon as she married in, her true nature was revealed—always at odds with Wan-niang, often whispering complaints into his ear.

Tang Tiansheng felt both helpless and bitterly amused.

Madam An would probably never understand that in the Tang family, sons didn’t count for much—the truly precious ones were the daughters.

Never mind that his little sister was not nearly as bad as An-shi claimed. Even if she were, she would still only be cherished and spoiled.

And in the future, when Tang Wan bore daughters of her own…

At that thought, Tang Tiansheng cast a subtle glance at Tang Hongba.

Catching his gaze, Tang Hongba furrowed his brows and gave a slight nod to show he understood.

Ling Yu took in their expressions but said nothing.

After the banquet ended, he didn’t immediately go inside. Instead, he sat calmly outside.

Sure enough, before long Tang Hongba came over, looking like he wanted to speak but didn’t know how.

Ling Yu smiled faintly:
“Father-in-law, please speak frankly.”

Forcing a smile, Tang Hongba said:
“It’s like this. You and Wan-niang will surely have children in the future. If it’s a son, then never mind. But if it’s a daughter, could she take the Tang surname?”

He hadn’t brought this up before, because he could tell his son-in-law hadn’t cared much for his daughter.

But now that things had changed, some things had to be said early to avoid trouble later.

Ling Yu hadn’t expected this request and was momentarily stunned.

Seeing his reaction, Tang Hongba thought he was unwilling, so he hurriedly added:
“You don’t understand—I just like girls. Girls are the little cotton jackets closest to their fathers’ hearts. I… ah… anyway, daughters can’t carry on the family line, so you… probably… won’t mind, right?”

A flash of sharpness flickered in Ling Yu’s eyes, gone in an instant. He nodded obediently:
“The surname doesn’t matter. Whether boy or girl, they’ll be mine and Wan-niang’s children. I don’t care about such things.”

Hearing this, Tang Hongba let out a heavy sigh of relief and chuckled:
“That’s good, that’s good. But you must work hard, eh? Strive to let me hold a plump little granddaughter soon!”

“Your son-in-law will do his best.” Ling Yu coughed lightly, his ears faintly red, and cupped his hands in salute.